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Do chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) mentally represent collaboration?: Action-learning and communication in a partnered task
Non-human primates engage in complex collective behaviours, but existing research does not paint a clear picture of what individuals cognitively represent when they act together. This study investigates chimpanzees’ capacity for co-representation. If individuals represent others’ actions as they relate to their own during a collaborative task, they should more easily learn to reproduce that action when their roles are switched. In a between-subjects design, we trained ten chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) on a sequential task, in which the first action is performed by either a human partner or a non-social object, and the second action is performed by the subject. We then imposed a breakdown in the action sequence, in which subjects could perform both actions themselves, but received no help from the experimenter or object. We measured subjects’ success in reproducing the first action in the sequence, as well as their attempts to recruit the experimenter’s help using requesting gestures. We found no overall difference in subjects’ ability to perform the first action in the sequence, but we observed significant qualitative differences in their solutions: individuals in the partnered condition replicated the experimenter’s action, while those in the non-social condition achieved the same end using alternative methods. This difference in solution style could indicate that only those chimpanzees in the partnered condition mentally represented the experimenter’s action during the collaborative task. We caution, however, that given the small number of subjects who solved the task, this result could also be driven by individual differences. We also found that subjects consistently produced communicative gestures toward the experimenter, but were more likely to do so after exhausting all actions they could take alone. We suggest that these patterns of behaviour highlight a number of key empirical considerations for the study of coordination in non-human primates.
Pharmacovigilance analysis of spondyloarthritis following HPV vaccination based on the VAERS database
Screening and validation of 3’-Methoxydaidzein as a therapeutic agent in ulcerative colitis based on disulfidptosis-associated molecular clusters
Background Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a recurrent inflammatory condition of the bowel with a multifaceted pathogenesis, including programmed cell death, oxidative stress, and immune-mediated inflammation. As a recently identified type of cell death, disulfidptosis has an unclear role in UC. Methods We analyzed clusters of disulfidptosis-related genes (DRGs) and immune cell infiltration in 361 patients with UC from the GSE73661and GSE92415 datasets. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using unsupervised clustering methods, and hub genes were selected using machine learning algorithms. Additionally, potential key components of potential traditional Chinese medicines for the treatment of UC were predicted based on hub genes. Finally, experimental validation was performed through qRT-PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. Results We identified two molecular clusters related to disulfidptosis, each showing significant heterogeneity in gene expression and immune profiles. Hub genes associated with disulfidptosis, CXCL1, HMGCS2, AQP8, and SLC26A2, were further screened and validated. Additionally, potential traditional Chinese medicines for UC were predicted. 3’-Methoxydaidzein (MHD), a key constituent of Puerariae Radix, inhibited LPS-induced inflammatory responses in Caco2 cells and alleviated DSS-induced colonic injury in UC mice via upregulation of SLC26A2. Conclusion DRGs demonstrate strong discriminatory power in distinguishing UC subtypes. Cluster with high expression of SLC26A2 showed a UC phenotype with a milder degree of damage. Additionally, we identified the hub gene SLC26A2 as playing a significant role in UC, and MHD demonstrates potential as a targeted therapeutic strategy for UC.
Publisher Correction: Establishment and characterization of a novel immortalized human aortic valve interstitial cell line
Do soil health indicators predict carbon and nitrogen functional stability under drought and heat?
Healthier soils are often assumed to retain function better under climate stress. However, links between common soil health indicators and soil functional resilience to stress are elusive. Our goal was to link soil health status with stress response by quantifying the multifunctional carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling response of soils under different management (forest, conventional, or organic) to drought or combined drought and heat stress. We monitored several C and N cycling functions during a 28-d stress and 28-d recovery period and calculated resistance and resilience indices for each function to create multifunctional C and N cycling indices. We related these indices to baseline soil health properties and microbial community characteristics. Traditional soil health indicators (e.g., total organic C, and microbial biomass and activity) were closely associated with N cycle resilience to drought stress. Indicators that distinguished forest from arable soils (e.g., low pH and chemical fertility, and high porosity, relative abundance of Basidiomycetes, and high C to N ratio) were generally positively related to drought resistance but negatively related to resilience. Bacterial and fungal community diversity were unrelated to either resistance or resilience for either cycle. Adding heat to drought created a strong N cycle stress which affected all sites similarly, and soil baseline properties were not related to either resistance or resilience. For both C and N cycles, stress type was the major determinant of resistance while management was the major determinant of resilience. Our results show that response to drought stress differs depending on the temperature at which it occurs, and that pH, chemical fertility, and SOM are all important components in stress response but affect C and N cycles differently.
Calibration-free picosecond LIPS for quantifying heavy metals in soils near Egyptian industrial sites
Abstract Excessive fertilizer and chemical usage have led to soil contamination by toxic heavy metals near the Abu-Zaabal industrial complex in Egypt. We introduce a groundbreaking calibration-free methodology using ultrafast Picosecond Laser-Induced Plasma Spectroscopy (CF-Ps-LIPS) for quantifying contaminant elements (Cd, Zn, Fe, Ni) in soils near Egypt’s Abu-Zaabal industrial complex. This study pioneers applying 170 ps laser pulses (Nd: YAG, 1064 nm) to achieve calibration-free analysis, eliminating matrix-matched standards and offering ± 1% agreement with ICP-OES. By integrating plasma diagnostics (electron density Ne = 1.2–1.5 × 1017 cm− 3 and temperature Te = 8508–10,275 K), we establish CF-Ps-LIPS as a rapid, minimally invasive tool for on-site environmental monitoring, validated through spatial contamination gradients linked to wind patterns. Concentrations of Cd (25.1–136.5 mg/kg), Zn (19.8–146.9 mg/kg), Fe (59.7–62 mg/kg), and Ni (119.4–157.8 mg/kg) were analyzed across seven sampling sites. The seventh site was used as a test sample of unknown concentration to validate CF-Ps-LIPS. Utilizing the Boltzmann distribution with plotting techniques enables precise plasma electron density and temperature determination under local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) conditions. The CF-Ps-LIPS study revealed significant concentration variations dependent on trace metal type, sampling location, and facility orientation. The CF-Ps-LIPS method provides calibration-free, rapid, and accurate detection of metal contaminants in Egyptian soils for the first time. This methodology significantly advances environmental monitoring and soil contamination analysis, allowing on-site assessments with higher efficiency and reliability.
Behavioral and Neural correlates of Post-STROKE Fatigue: A randomized controlled trial protocol
Introduction Post-stroke fatigue (PSF) is highly prevalent and lacks of effective management. Recent evidence suggest the use of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to reduce PSF. However, the effect was not lasting and the working mechanisms was unclear. The purpose of this study is to determine the behavioral and neurophysiological effects of five daily sessions of tDCS on PSF. Methods and analysis This will be a double-blind randomized controlled trial targeting an enrollment of 32 participants with subacute-chronic stroke and significant fatigue (average Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) > 4). Participants will be equally randomized to either anodal tDCS or sham tDCS groups. The anodal tDCS group will receive 20 minutes of 2-mA anodal tDCS applied to the ipsilesional primary motor cortex (M1) for five consecutive days. The sham tDCS group will receive the same protocol except there will be no active current delivered. Outcome assessments will take place at baseline (prior to randomization), immediately after the intervention, and at one-month follow-up. The primary behavioral outcome will be the FSS and the primary neurophysiological outcome will be an input-output curve of motor cortex excitability derived using transcranial magnetic stimulation. Secondary behavioral outcomes will include Fatigue Scale for Motor and Cognitive Function, Visual Analog Scale-Fatigue, Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion, and Paas Mental Effort Rating Scale. Secondary neurophysiological outcome will be the functional connectivity of the fronto-striato-thalamic network acquired using resting state functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Repeated measure ANOVA or ANCOVA will be conducted for all outcomes to compare the change between groups. Discussion Little is known about effective treatments for PSF and the underlying mechanisms of PSF. tDCS is a promising tool to provide targeted intervention to reduce PSF symptoms. However, its lasting effect and working mechanism on PSF is elusive. The results of this clinical trial will offer critical information for PSF management and investigation. Trial registration This trial was registered in February 1 2024 with ClinicalTrials.gov under the registration number NCT06088914.
Serum growth differentiation factor 15 associates with extra-glandular manifestations and disease activity of primary Sjögren’s syndrome
Uncontrolled hypertension among hypertensive patients in public hospitals at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Background In both high- and low-income nations, uncontrolled hypertension poses a serious threat to public health for those who suffer from it. After it starts, hypertension needs to be controlled throughout the remainder of the person’s life. Both drug and non-drug treatments are effective in preventing and managing hypertension. In Addis Ababa, little research was done on hypertensive individuals who had uncontrolled hypertension. Methods An institution based cross-sectional study was conducted at three public hospitals in Addis Ababa. A simple random sampling technique was used to choose the research participants. To assess factors associated with uncontrolled hypertension a binary logistic regression analysis was performed. Result A total of 621 study participants with a response rate of 98.2% were included in this study. The study revealed that the magnitude of uncontrolled hypertension was 48%. The factors significantly associated with uncontrolled hypertension were duration of illness (AOR = 1.72, 95% CI= (1.01–2.96)), sex (AOR = 1.80, 95% CI= (1.20–2.70)), physical activity adherence (AOR = 2.48, 95% CI= (1.39–4.41)), occupational status (AOR = 0.38, 95% CI= (0.22–0.68)) and educational status (AOR = 2.45, 95% CI= (1.37–4.39)). Conclusion Uncontrolled hypertension was seen in almost half of the study participants. Variables that were substantially associated with uncontrolled hypertension were sex, educational attainment, employment position, length of illness, and physical activity adherence. Healthcare providers should encourage patients to exercise frequently and make sure they take their hypertension medicines as directed.
Platelet apheresis with additive solution and plasma rinseback affects the cellular composition of LRS chamber products
Abstract Human leukocyte concentrates recovered from leukocyte reduction system (LRS) chambers of the Trima Accel automated blood collection device are a by-product of platelet apheresis that is often used in research. The Trima Accel software was obligatorily updated in 2023 from version 6 to 7. Here, we investigated software-dependent differences in the cellular composition of LRS concentrates when performing apheresis with either plasma or platelet additive solution. When using plasma as suspension medium, the software update to Trima 7 led to higher fraction of B cells as revealed by flow cytometry. Compared to platelets-in-plasma collection, the total recovered volume and leukocyte density was significantly reduced when running Trima 7 software with platelet additive solution including a plasma rinseback. Moreover, the proportion of lymphocytes and monocytes in these products was lower, whereas the proportion of neutrophils and eosinophils was higher. Researchers working with leukocytes isolated from LRS chambers should be aware that performing apheresis with platelet additive solution alters the composition of their starting material, which could affect the interpretation of some experiments.
Kaempferol inhibits oxidative stress and reduces macrophage pyroptosis by activating the NRF2 signaling pathway
Kaempferol exhibits various biological activities, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Its role in modulating lipid metabolism and inhibiting inflammatory responses to suppress the progression of atherosclerosis has been confirmed. However, its impact on macrophage pyroptosis and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the effects of kaempferol (Kae) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced macrophage pyroptosis and its potential mechanisms. In the experiments, we used the CCK8 assay to evaluate cell viability, ROS detection kits to measure intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, Western Blot to detect the expression of proteins such as NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), gasdermin D (GSDMD), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and immunofluorescence to observe NRF2 nuclear translocation. The results showed that kaempferol alleviated LPS-induced cell viability decline and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, inhibited excessive ROS generation, and suppressed NLRP3 inflammasome activation by increasing glutathione (GSH) and HO-1 levels, thereby reducing the expression of inflammatory factors. Additionally, kaempferol promoted NRF2 nuclear translocation, and the application of the NRF2 inhibitor ML385 reversed its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. In vivo experiments further confirmed that kaempferol inhibited oxidative stress and reduced macrophage pyroptosis by activating the NRF2 pathway.
Design and synthesis, and experimental-computational analysis of an acetic acid-functionalized zinc tetrapyridinoporphyrazine catalyst for synthesizing acridine and quinoline derivatives
GlowGrow: Designing an ambient biofeedback system for pregnancy stress management
Pregnancy can be challenging for women as they experience various physical, psychological, and social changes that can lead to stress and potential mental health concerns. Being neglected in the long-term, sustained stress can increase the likelihood of postpartum depression, which can have significant negative impacts on mothers, families, and society. Therefore, managing stress promptly and maintaining emotional well-being is crucial for pregnant women to give a healthy birth and improve their postpartum life quality. Biofeedback is a secure and effective treatment for anxiety; nevertheless, conventional biofeedback systems often depend on intrusive sensors and require clinician support, thereby restricting their utilization primarily to clinical settings. To address this challenge, in this study, by incorporating biofeedback techniques with wearable sensors, musical displays, and ambient light, we created an immersive biofeedback environment where pregnant women could practice slow-paced resonant breathing to promote relaxation and reduce stress. GlowGrow system has been deployed in a regional hospital’s ante-natal clinic and evaluated by 24 pregnant women regarding its effectiveness and user experience. The results show that GlowGrow, as an effective relaxation intervention, could efficiently guide pregnant women to perform deep breathing and manage physiological stress.
Strain engineering of doped hydrogen passivated silicon quantum dots
Abstract Silicon quantum dots are nanomaterials that are attractive candidates for photovoltaic applications. Doping of these materials creates p-n junctions and is important for solar cells. In this work, we present a first-principles study of the coupled influence of doping and strain on the stability, energy gap, Fermi level, electronic density, and density of states of hydrogen-passivated silicon quantum dots. We find that the cohesive energy and the energy gap decrease with increasing quantum dot size and are strongly influenced by strain. Furthermore, the response to strain also depends on the size of the quantum dot and dopant type. We present expressions of cohesive energy and energy gap as power-law of size and polynomial dependence on strain. We also show that the Fermi energy increases with size for pristine and p-type doping but decreases with size for n-type doping. We also discuss the influence of strain and dopant type on the density of states and electron density of the quantum dots.
Caregiving in rural areas: A qualitative study of challenges and resilience
Background and objectives Informal caregivers are critical to providing support to adults with functional limitations or disease in rural areas. There is a need to understand factors that impact rural caregiving to build equitable health services, yet there is a lack of research that weighs both strengths and challenges. Our goal is to examine these factors as identified by rural caregivers in qualitative interviews. Research design and methods A purposive sample of rural-dwelling caregivers (n = 18) was recruited from a state-wide registry in a predominantly rural state. Semi-structured interviews were conducted by phone and interview transcripts were qualitatively analyzed. Results We identified areas of strengths and resilience among rural caregivers, including informal support from friends and neighbors, which often bridged gaps in formal services. Rural caregivers also identified barriers to service use, such as long distance, travel and a lack of awareness within the healthcare system. Discussion and implications These challenges increase caregivers’ needs for tailored family centered care coordination and highlight the necessity of providing diverse care delivery options. Our findings highlight that community-based efforts and policy should address barriers and rural disadvantage, while also fostering and empowering the resilience of caregivers in their rural home environment.
A novel efferocytosis-related gene signature for predicting prognosis and therapeutic response in bladder cancer
Generation and characterization of BAC transgenic mouse lines expressing a fluorescent protein in trigeminal and dorsal root ganglion neurons
Genetic tools to identify and isolate specific cell types are required to study different model systems in an organism. Such tools to study sensory neurons in trigeminal and dorsal root ganglia are insufficient, making research progress in somatosensation difficult. Our study aimed to distinctly visualize and identify these peripheral sensory neurons in the mouse somatosensory system. We generated bacterial artificial chromosome transgenic mouse lines expressing the red fluorescent protein (RFP) in nuclei of Advillin (Avil)-positive neurons to help with the scarcity of bioresources. In these mice, RFP was specifically expressed in the trigeminal ganglion (TG) and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) in adulthood, consistent with previous reports. We also assessed RFP expression in the TG and DRG of these mice during embryonic and postnatal development. The TG RFP expression became evident around embryonic day 16.5 and continued across the postnatal period; in the DRG, it became apparent around postnatal day 0, continuing further. Lastly, almost all TG neurons (~90%) expressed RFP. These transgenic lines are valuable for studying the murine somatosensory system across developmental stages.
Analysis of dynamic network reconfiguration in HIV patients with cognitive impairment based multilayer network
Comparison of TENS electrodes and textile electrodes for electrocutaneous warning
Electrocutaneous stimulation can be employed to alert workers in potentially hazardous situations. Previous parameter studies used TENS electrodes during the developmental process of the electrical warning system. As a step towards more practicability, we now focus on electrocutaneous stimulation through wearable textile electrodes. In order to determine the feasibility of a novel textile electrode cuff in comparison to previously used TENS electrodes, two studies were conducted. In a study on n = 30 participants, perception, attention, muscle twitch, and intolerance thresholds as well as qualitative and spatial perceptions, were determined for eight pairs of electrodes circumferentially placed around the upper right arm for TENS and for textile electrodes. In a second study on n = 36 participants, these thresholds were also determined during vibration, and a warning signal pattern was presented during vibration. We found smaller perception thresholds for the textile electrodes in comparison to the TENS electrodes for all 8 electrode pairs and occasional differences for the attention and intolerance thresholds, which might be mainly explained by the varying electrode sizes due to the manual production process of the textile electrodes. Stimulation using textile electrodes within the cuff showed less frequent muscle twitches compared to TENS electrodes. Other qualitative and spatial perceptions appeared comparable. The perception, attention, and intolerance thresholds increased during vibration comparable to previous results with TENS electrodes. The feasibility of using the textile electrodes during vibration and for the application of a warning signal was successfully demonstrated. Occasional cases occurred where the transition impedance was too high while using the textile electrodes. Future studies will focus on electrode optimization to achieve a wearable solution with both low electrode-skin transition impedance and minimal muscle twitching.